Be Your Best, Plus One

By Jacky Howard, KPA dad

We all want our kids to be their best. Do their best, act their best, talk their best, look their best, and so the story goes. You get the picture.

I am never disappointed when my kids do their best. That’s what we all expect, right? ‘Just do your best and I will love you no matter what!’ Our society is crawling with overly assertive parents, and I certainly don’t want to be in that assembly. But there is a payoff and excitement when the “best” effort is taken up a notch. I want my kids to be their best, plus one. Let me explain.

It’s the same concept as giving 110%. As a younger lad in college, I had a lively debate with a friend who emphatically argued there is no way one can give a 110%. True. However, I think you can turn it up one more click and push your limits.

At 211°, water is hot–very hot! Water can sit there and be the best water it can be. It can cook vegetables, brew a beverage and even burn your skin. Water can perform at 211°. But, add just 1°. Suddenly, you have a change in the property the water yields. At 212°, water boils and creates energy called steam. The use of steam has powered ships and locomotives. This is the power of Plus One.

What does that mean to you and me? How do we show our kids to engage in that extra step? By the way, see what I did there? I didn’t say tell your kids, I said show them. Show them that extra degree by being one better at everything you do. They watch what we do, because we all know their “pay attention to what I’m telling you” skills lack. After all, Colossians 3:23 says, whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord not for man. Be the example of a Plus One Mom or Dad.

Ask any Olympic medal winner about the margin of victory between Gold, Silver and Bronze. That one degree is an extra lap around the pool or staying late to make sure you get the landing right. Whether it’s sports, business, school or life, that extra degree is the difference.

I wish I could mind-meld all my 50 plus years of wisdom to my kids. Alleviate their heartbreak, mistakes, and take away life’s boo-boos. But I can’t. We can’t mom and dad. All we can do is encourage and show our little humans to be productive men and women of God and to do their best, plus one. It is in each of us to do a little more, be a little better and take it up a degree.

Word of caution – be an encourager, not a pushy parent.

We want the best out of our kids, not dread of a task or the fear of failure.

It starts with you, Mom and Dad. Show your family you can be a “one-degree-better” you. You are your own competition, and it is in each of us to make a move. Turn on the burner, and let’s boil!